Air conditioner



I J] ALMLJM/LULJZHWLJU A ril 28, 1936., D, w. AZIER 2,038,654

AIR CONDITIONER Filed Nov. 29, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 p i 1936. D. w. GRAZIER 2,038,354

AIR CONDITIONER I Filed NOV. 29, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 77% Dore 'WGr Z igr,

April 28, 1936. r [1 w GRAZlER 2,038,654

' AIR CONDITIONER I I Filed Nov. 29, 1932 v 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 flora 71. 6712, z ierj D. w. GRAZIER AIR CONDITIONER April 28, 1936.

6 Sheets-Sheet! Filed NOV. 29, 1932 A ril 28, 1936,

D. W. GRAZIER AIR CONDITIONER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 29, 1932 WIIIIHHIINUI flare GraZ eI April 28, 1936. D W. GRAZ|ER AIR CONDITIONER Filed Nov. 29, 1932 e Sheets-Sheet e Patented Apr. 28, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention consists of an air conditioning apparatus having for an object the provision of a single, compact unit equipped to function either as a heater and air conditioner, or as a cooling system embodying an air-conditioner, at the option of the user, without any essential change to maintain apredetermined temperature and to condition the air in a given space without resort to cumbersome, unwieldy and complicated mechanism.

Other objects of the invention are to employ a unit which is reversible and into which the air is induced, and from which the air is ejected either at a point in proximity to the floor-on which the unit is mounted, or at a remote point for adaptation in either a room or a building composed of a series of rooms; to provide a unit of this character which is expansible to multiply the volume of treated air; to provide a unit constructed in accordance with the teaching of the present invention which precludes possibility of the liquid from the washer and/or humidifier contacting the heater assembly; and to provide in the unit a multiple burner assembly which is positive in its operation to prevent ignition of one burner to the exclusion of the others.

A further object of the invention is to provide a single housing adapted to contain the air heating, inducing, washing, humidifying and cooling apparatus arranged in proper sequence, to .insure ejection of the air at a predetermined temperature laden with a predetermined moisture content, the housing being completely mounted in an ornate casing of special construction which will not detract from the appearance of any room in which it is located and which will occupy ,a minmum amount of space.

Other objects of the invention will be manifest from the following description of the present preferred form thereof, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a unit constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical, sectional view, showing to advantage the manner of mounting the air heater, air induction means, air washer, humidifier and water or liquid eliminator in the housing;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing to advantage the heater assembly of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal, sectional view, showing the heating assembly and a portion of the air conditioner in top plan;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the unit, looking at one side thereof, showing the wall removed to disclose the interior of the housing, portions being broken away to show a portion of the air conditioning apparatus; Fig. 6 is a detail, fragmentary sectional view, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the air suction means and the liquid sprinkler and diffuser;

Fig. 7 is a' detail, fragmentary sectional view of one of the liquid sprays and liquid diffuser or spreader;

Fig. 8 is a detail fragmentary sectional view of the liquid drain in the bottom of the housing;

Fig. 9 is a detail, fragmentary sectional view, taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8, showing to advantage the liquid level regulating means;

Fig. 10 is a detail, fragmentary sectional view, taken on the line |0l0 of Fig. 4,,looking in the direction of the arrows, showing one of the combustion tunnels of the heating assembly, a pilot.

tube being shown in section in the tunnel;

Fig. 11 is a detail, enlarged, fragmentary sectional view of the frame used for engaging the housing with the casing unit;

Fig. 12 is a detail fragmentary, perspective view of one of the housing supporting angles;

Fig. 13 is a detail fragmentary, enlarged, sectional view of the frames for the upper and lower tiers of air conditioning plates, showing the manner of spacing the frames;

Fig. 14 is a detail, enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of a set ofair conditioning plates and associated frame; I

Fig. 15 is a detail, enlarged elevational view of the air conditioning portion of the unit housing, showing a modified form of conditioner in side elevation interchanged for the upper tier of air conditioner plates; and

Fig. 16 is a detail, fragmentary perspective view of one of the casing panels. 7

The unit of the present invention, generally designated ll, includes a casing or cabinet, which in the present instance is shown to be or rectangular configuration in cross-section and is made up of a skeleton frame which is adapted to receive removable panels IS, the margins of which are of especial construction to flex into the frame.

Each panel, as shown in Fig. 16 is incised at the:

corner thereof, as indicated at IS, the portions of each margin of the panel beyond the bights of theincisions being bent at right angles to provide flanges 20, which are intermediately pressed outwardly to provide beads 2|. The terminals of the flanges are reversely folded at right angles to the latter to provide retention strips 22. Upon reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, it will be noted that the panels are sprung into the casing frame, in which position the beads 2| are engaged with the rear faces of the frames, while the strips 22 rest againstthe outer faces of the frame. It; will be noted, especially upon reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, that panels are omitted from two opposite sides of the casing to provide openings 23 at the top thereof, for a purpose hereinafter described.

The unit of the present invention further includes a housing, generally designated 24, which in the present instance, is shown to be U-shaped, the base 24 of the U being arrangedto lie at the bottom of the unit casing, while the terminals eral displacement by guide pins 41, carried by the of the legs of the U are equipped with elbow extensions 25, the free ends of which latter are engaged with the inner-faces of the casing frame, around the openings 23 at the top of the casing. It is of course, to be understood that the housing 24 may be mounted in the casing in any desired manner, but I prefer to employ for this purpose, supporting frames 26, which are detachably engaged with the legs of the U and with. the casing frame, permitting expeditious removal of the housing and inversion of the latter, if and when desired, in a manner hereinafter described. Upon reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be noted that the U-shaped housing is preferably of multipart construction, each of the legs thereof being formed as a unit. The base 24' of the U, which forms the housing sump, is preferably divided into two parts joined together at 21, the base entity being engaged to the housing legs at 28. By preference the elbows 25 are likewise detachably engaged with the legs of the U, as indicated at 29.

One of the legs of the housing 24 is equipped with heating means 30, employing in the present instance three combustion chambers 3|, each of which is formed by concentrically mounting in spaced relation, inner and outer shells 32 and 33, respectively, the opposite ends of whi'chiare joined together to provide the combustion space therebetween in which a spiral 34 is mounted, providing a battle for the products of combustion. As shown to advantage-in Figs. 3 and-4, the central combustion chamber is placed in communication with the adjacent combustion chambers by means of a combustion tunnel 35. In-the bot tom of each of the combustion chambers 3|, I

mount a ring burner 36, which is. engaged with I a suitable source of fuel supplythrough lead-in pipes 31. The central burner 36 is equipped with a pilot tubes 38, which extend laterally therefrom and terminate in close proximity to the adjacent burners to insure ignition of both'of said burners when the central burner is ignited. The central or intermediate burner in this manner constitutes a pilot burner'which may be constantly operated when the heater is in use and which will furnish the ignition means for the other burners when the fuel supply opens into the latter. into each .of the 'combustion chambers 3| is an ignition means 39, which in the present instance,

is shown to: consist of aspark plug detachably mounted in a complementalopening formed in the outer wall of the combustion chamber, the

,plug being encased in acollar. 40, which extends through the leg of the'hous ing 24 in which the heating means 30 is mounted. A-corresponding collar extends through the opposite side of the leg and is provided with a removable plug 4| to permit the induction of-means' such as a match Extending products of combustion pass from each of the combustion chambers through a fiue manifold 42 into a stack 43. The construction of heating.

means above described-prevents the failure of operation of any one of the burners when the fuel supply is opened. thereinto.

The heating means 30 may be supported in the leg of the housing by suitable angle supports 44, the structure of each of which is advantageously shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings. Each of the supports includes horizontal terminals 45 and vertical terminals 46, which are adapted for securement to the inner walls of the leg of the housing 24. The heating means is held from latsupporting angles. As illustrated to advantage in Fig. 4, the heater means rests upon the horizontal shelf portion 48 of the angle supports and is'in spaced relation to the terminals 45 of the angles, by reason of said pins 41.

Each of the combustion chambers 3| is open at diametrically opposite points below the burners 36 to provide secondary air inlet openings. These openings receive collars 49, which are fitted through the leg of the housing 24, in which the heater means is mounted, and extend inwardly through the shell 33 of the combustion chamber to communicate with the interior of the latter. The outer end of each of the collars'49 is equipped with a screen 50.

In the opposite leg of the housing 24 I prefer to mount, in superposed relation, tiers of plates,

These plates are .so

inafter described. The lower tier 5| rests'upon an angle plate 52, secured to the housing leg adjacent the lower end .of the latter, as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5. 'The upper tier 5| is superposed abovethe lower tier and spaced therefrom by a T-iron 53, shown in detail in Fig. 13 of the drawings. The plates per se, designated 54, may be formed of copper or like metal and are of zig-zag formation, adapted to'yield under pressure. The tiers are built up by employing-a series of frames 55, ineach of which one of the plates 54 is mounted, the-framesbeing arranged in spaced relation and also receiving therebetween one of the plates 54. In this mannerthe plate-containingframes; and the plates'per se, are 'arrangedin alternate relation transversely across the housing leg. Midway between the ends of each'tier of plates, I'interpose a spacer frame 56,jwhich exerts a pressure on the plates and flexes the. same for frictionalf-engagement without the utilization of fastening means of any kind. The spacer frames 56 are of the sameconstruction as theframes 55 and are hollow throughout, except for the connections 51, mounted therebetween forholding the channel ends of the frame together. It is therefore manifest that each tier may be dissembled and the plates removed in a facile and expeditious manner, if and when desired, such as for cleaning the plates, etc. 5 of the drawings, the leg of the housing 24 in which the tiers of plates are mounted, is provided with a skirt 58, which projects beneath the lower tier of plates and is overlapped by a deflector As shown in Fig..

passing through the leg beyond the terminals ofthe plate tiers.

When it is desired to intensify the cooling and dehumidifying efiect of the unit, the upper tier of plates 5| may be removed and a cooling coil 60, such as illustrated in Fig. 15 of the drawings, may be substituted. The coil 60 is of convential design and may be placed in communication with a source of suitable liquid refrigerant in a manner well known in the art.

Extending through the housing bottom 24 and journalled in the sides thereof, is a shaft 6|, one end of which extends beyond the casing and is equipped with a pulley 62 for engagement with a power belt 63, through the medium of which the shaft 6| is rotated. The shaft has fixedly engaged thereto a blower fan 64, which is pref-' erably mounted centrally in the housing bottom within a deflector apron 65. extends over top of the fan and is anchored to the housing bottom. The opposite end of the apron 65 extends around one side of the fan and beneath the latter, the free terminals thereof being engaged at the jointure 21 of the housing bottom 24. The fan 64, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, is eccentrically mounted with respect tothe apron 65, in order to provide a gradually diverging space from a point over the top of the fan to a point below the bottom thereof, to obtain maximum air velocity. as the air is blown or urged over the bottom of the apron. The opposite ends of the apron 65, around the axis of the fan 64, are open to permit inlet of air to the fan. Each opening has a sleeve 61 mounted therein, which terminates in close proximity to the fan. The housing bottom 24' is adapted for the reception of liquid 66, which is maintained at a predetermined level and over which the air passes.

A liquid spray pipe 68 is also mounted in the housing bottom; 24' and extends completely through the latter and through one of the sides of the housing where it is connected with a supply pipe 69 The spray pipe 68 is provided at intervals with spray nozzles 10, above each of which is mounted a liquid diffuser or baflle H. Each of saiddiflusers or baflies H consists of a supporting bar 12, one end of which embraces the spray pipe.68 and is detachably engaged therewith, while the opposite end is bent at right angles and has detachably mounted thereon a deflector plate I3, the liquid engaging base of which is preferably of arcuate configuration.

The plate 13 is mounted in a suitable frame I4 the liquid diifusers or baflies H are disposed at an inclination in the housing base, the degree of angularity being. of course, adjustable.

The housing base is provided with an opening 15 at a predetermined point, which may be formed by pressing out a portion of the housing as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings. Excess water or liquid in the casing is permitted to gravitate through the opening 15, the latter being covered by a screen 16. The outwardly pressed portion of the housing base provides a basin or drain 11, with which one end of a drain pipe 18 is in communication. The screen 16 is anchored in the base 24' of the housing over thejopening -l5, pref- One end of the apron 1 erably as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings. A liquid level regulating means 19 is adjustably mounted in the basin 1'! in spaced relation to the drain pipe 18. In the present instance, said means 19 is shown to consist of a sponge rubber block over which a clamping bar is detachably mounted. Movement of the means 19 in the direction of the drain pipe 18 is limited to prevent said means from closing over the end of the drain pipe.

By use of a dual automatically operated valve, not shown, as it forms no part of the present invention, in the liquid supply pipe 69, liquid from the latter may be by-passed into a coil 8| and the liquid pressure materially reduced. The coil 8I,'shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, is preferably arranged to lie against the outer wall of one of the combustion chambers 3| to permit heating of the liquid preparatory to ejecting the latter through the spray 68.

To render the parts contained in the base 24' of the housing visible, I mount windows 82, in the ends of the base. The Windows are in liquidtight engagement with the base ends to prevent seepage of air or liquid therethroug'h.

The casing of the unit has a compartment 83 mounted therein, adjacent the housing base, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings. This compartment is adapted for the reception of the unit controls, generally designated 84, of conventional design. By mounting all of the controls in said compartment, the unit is self-contained and the controls are rendered readily accessible by the simple expedient of removing one of the base panels l8 of the unit. It is desired to provide artificial lighting means within the housing base and for this purpose I mount one or more illuminating agents 35 on a suitable supporting structure 86, carried by the lower terdrawings, where the unit serves as a heater per se, the operation may be as follows.

The products of combustion from the burners 36 pass upwardly through the combustion chambers 3| and impinge against the spiral baffles 3-1, the spent products discharging into the flue manifold 42 and ultimately out the stack 43. The intermediate of the burners 36, as above described, constitutes the pilot burner which may be used for igniting the adjacent burners although the latter may, of course, be independently ignited in the manner already described. The valves in the gas supply pipes leading to the burners may be automatically controlled by room thermostats (not shown) in a manner well known in the art. When the burners are in operation, the liquid 'coil 8| is heated to prevent chilling of the air when the latter is impinged by-the liquid sprayed or atomized through the spray pipe 68. Air is drawn in through the housing above the heater means 30 by the fan 64, the air travelling completely around the heater in the air passageways within the shell 32 and between the outer shell 33 and the leg of the housing in which the heater is mounted. The air then passes into the housing base or sump 24' Gun through the fan 64 and is projected therefrom through the sprayed or atomized liquid diffused by the bailie ll, preparatory to passage of air through the liquid eliminating and air tempering plates 54. The air exits from the housing above the uppermost plate tier at a point opposite the air inlet vent of the housing. In this manner the air entering the housing is first heated, then washed and humidified by the liquid 66 in the sump and the liquid sprayed or atomized from the pipe 68 and diffused by the baflies II, following which excess moisture is removed from the air and the air tempered, as it passes through the plates 54, preparatory to leaving the housing.

Where the unit isused to condition the air for the purpose of cooling the.same, the air circuit through the housing is the same, but operation of the heater is discontinued. Consequently, the air, after entering the housing, travels through the leg of the latter, which con- 'tains the heating mechanism, engages the fan 64 and is forced through the liquid in the sump and the atomized liquid, preparatory to passing through the plates 54. Where the cooling of the air is to be intensified, in addition to the cooling obtained through use of the sprays alone, the upper tier of plates 54 is removed from the housing and in its place the refrigerating coil 60 is substituted, the latter being of a construction which permits it to be accommodated in the space provided for the upper tier of plates. In this manner the. air drawn in through the housing is washed, partially dehumidified, and cooled before passing into the plates 54 and refrigerating coil 60, where it is further cooled and more completely dehumidified.

Besides the above modes of operation, in using the unit as a heater, including an air conditioner, and as a cooling system, also including an air conditioner, I'have found that the unit may be advantageously used by changing this mode of operation. As shown in Fig. of the drawings, a liquid spray pipe 68 may be placed above the plates 54 and the air drawn into the housing through the liquid ejected from said pipe, afterwards travelling through the plates 54 downwardly through the fan, thence over the liquid 56 in the housing base or sump 24, finally issuingthrough the heating means 30. When the unit is operated in this manner, the liquid spray or atomizer 68 is eliminated, and the sump housing is attached in a laterally reversed position, thus reversing the direction of the air flow through the unit.

Additionally, I find it expedient to effect complete inversion of the unit for use under certain conditions with a corresponding complete reversal of the air circuit. This is effected by detaching the elbow extensions 25 and the housing base.24', after which the housing is inverted and engaged with the tops of the housing legs, and the elbow extensions engaged with the lower terminals of through the liquid atomized from the spray pipe 68. The air then passes through the plates 54 in the opposite housing leg and exits near the base of the heater. Any excess moisture gravitating from the plates 54 will be intercepted by the elbow 25 subjacent the plates and may be drained therefrom in any suitable manner. By changing the lateral position of the sump on the housing, the air may be humidified before entering the heater leg of the housing 24.. To effect this result, the air is first drawn through the leg of the housing in which the plates 54 are mounted, the air being moistened by the spray pipe 68 before engaging the plates. The humidified air thentravels through the fan and impinges the heater 3|] in the opposite housing leg. Where the unit is to be used solely as an air conditioner and humidifienthe heater is of course, rendered inoperative and the air circuited through the unit in either of the ways above described. Where the spray pipe 68' is used below the plates 54, it is manifest that the suction of the fan will be sufficient to draw the liquid, or a goodly portion thereof through the plates, the remainder gravitating into the elbow 25. It will be noted that the contour of the elbows is such as to form troughs or basins when the unit is used in an inverted position.

It is to be understood, of course, that although I have herein shown and described the preferred forms of my invention, various changes may' be made therein, especially in the details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts, within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An air heater and conditioner including a closed U-shaped vertically arranged housing with laterally extending air inlet and outlet extensions on the terminals thereof projecting in opposite directions, air induction means mounted in the base of the U for drawing air through said inlet opening and expelling it through the outlet opening of the housing, air heating means mounted in one leg of the housing, and air conditioning means arranged in the other leg of the housing.

2. An air conditioner including a housing comprising a base and air inlet and outlet conduits opening through opposite sides of the housing, the latter being in communication with the base, a fan mounted in said base for inducing air into the latter through one of said conduits and ejecting the same from the base through the other conduit, air heating means mounted in one of the conduits, a' water eliminator arranged in the other conduit, and an air moistener in said base in the path of travel of the air stream; v

3. An air conditioner including a. U-shaped housing, one leg of which constitutes an' air inlet conduit, while the opposite leg constitutes an air outlet conduit, said conduits communicating with said base to form, with the latter, a complete air circuit in the housing, air conditioning means mounted in each of the legs, a fan in said base to effect intake of air into and ejection of air from the housing, a liquid spray pipe mounted in said-base, and liquid diffusers'on said pipe to efiect atomization of said sprayed liquid in the passage of air in said air stream.

- O E: W. GRAZIER. 

